Down and out: Spain's Alberto Contador holds his knee after crashing on the 10th stage. Photo: AP

In Italy for a sponsor’s event, the 2012 Tour champion told the Gazzetta dello Sport that he would also like to attempt the hour record next year, and said: ‘‘I’ll do it with these bikes because I’m staying with Sky.’’

It had been speculated that the 34-year-old – off contract with Sky this year – would move to a rival team after missing out on the squad for this year’s Tour de France.

Last month, Orica-GreenEDGE’s sports director Matt White said Wiggins would be a good fit for the young professional team, which needed an experienced grand tour rider.

Cycling regulations state that transfer announcements can’t be made before August 1.

Wiggins’ next big race will be the Tour of Spanish starting on August 23, but he said: ‘‘My time as a grand tour rider has passed. Sure, I will still enter them, but not to win.’’